Libraries to offer shelter to the vulnerable during UK’s cost of living crisis

theguardian.com:

Libraries in England and Wales are responding to the cost of living crisis by abolishing daily late fees for books and getting ready to become “warm banks” to help the vulnerable this winter.

A survey by Libraries Connected, a charity which represents public libraries, found that nearly 60% are actively considering taking part in a “warm bank” scheme, offering heat and shelter to vulnerable people, as another way to help during the cost of living crisis. However, just 4% of library leaders expect to receive any extra funding for this activity.

Meanwhile, the Guardian contacted 148 library authorities in England and Wales about library fines, charged every day that a book or other item issued by the library is overdue. Of the 79 libraries that responded, half are no longer charging adults late fees, in a bid to encourage people to use their services more and to help ease financial pressures. A majority of libraries in England and Wales do not charge children late fees.

All councils are still charging adults if they lose books or damage them beyond use, although some have discretionary measures in place which take into account people’s circumstances, as well as the age of the book and the reason any damage might have occurred.

Among the libraries which have recently stopped issuing late fees to adults are those run by Bradford council, which stopped charging from 1 July this year. However, it will still charge customers if they do not return items after two months. Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford council’s executive member for healthy people and places, said the council hoped that “by dropping overdue charges it will allow more people to feel confident using the libraries and borrowing items and we hope to increase our